A Greek-flagged oil tanker, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude, has become an environmental hazard after being attacked in the Red Sea and evacuated by its crew, according to the EU's Red Sea naval mission "Aspides" on Thursday.

The Sounion was struck by multiple projectiles near Yemen's port city of Hodeidah on Wednesday, a location where the Houthis have been targeting ships in support of Palestinians involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. "The MV SOUNION, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, now poses a navigational and environmental hazard," Aspides stated on the social media platform X. The Houthis, who dominate Yemen's most populated areas, have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

This marks the third attack on a vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers in the Red Sea this month. The attack resulted in a fire onboard, which was put out by the crew, as confirmed by Delta Tankers in a statement. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the attack led to the loss of engine power, and the vessel is now anchored between Yemen and Eritrea, according to a maritime security source.

Delta Tankers is developing a plan to relocate the Sounion to a safer location for further inspections and repairs. The EU Red Sea naval mission stated it responded to a request from the Sounion's captain and sent a ship to rescue the crew to Djibouti, as reported by Aspides. "While approaching the area, the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES ship neutralized an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) that posed an imminent threat to the ship and the crew," Aspides added.

The Greek shipping ministry revealed that the vessel was en route from Iraq to Agioi Theodoroi in Greece, crewed by two Russians and 23 Filipinos. Since November, the Houthis have been responsible for numerous attacks in the Red Sea, sinking two vessels, seizing another, killing at least three sailors, and disrupting global trade by forcing ship owners to bypass the Suez Canal.

In a separate incident on Thursday, a vessel reported a minor explosion caused by an encounter with an uncrewed vessel 57 nautical miles south of Yemen's port of Aden, according to the UKMTO. The vessel and its crew are safe and continuing to their next destination. Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianidis condemned the attack on the Sounion, calling it "a blatant violation of international law and a significant threat to the safety of international shipping."